Is the Vauxhall Astra reliable?

On MOT evidence the Vauxhall Astra is below average. It passes 71.0% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 160 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Vauxhall Astra?

The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 22.9% of failed Vauxhall Astra tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Vauxhall Astra?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 24.4% of all Vauxhall Astra tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Vauxhall Astra usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 88,354 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Which Vauxhall Astra years are the most reliable?

Going by MOT pass rate, Vauxhall Astra cars first registered 2020–2022 do best at 86.1%, and those registered 2010 and earlier do worst at 55.7%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.

Does a Vauxhall Astra get harder to pass as it ages?

Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 86.1% of Vauxhall Astra tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 55.7%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

Are most Vauxhall Astra models petrol or diesel?

Of the Vauxhall Astra cars tested, 70% are petrol, 30% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Vauxhall Astra MOT pass rate & common failures

From 584,157 recorded MOT tests of the Vauxhall Astra, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

The Vauxhall Astra passes 71.0% of MOT tests once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, against a national average of 72.3%. That is below average, ranking it 160 of 262 models with enough data to compare fairly. Based on 584,157 tests. Its most commonly recorded failure is spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which appears in 22.9% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 88,354 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

71.0%national average72.3%unadjusted65.8%range covered100%rank160 of 262

The Astra is 1.3 percentage points below the national pass rate once age and mileage are accounted for, which is below average. The unadjusted figure is 65.8%; the difference is what the age and mileage of this model’s fleet was hiding.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Vauxhall Astra tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened22.9%
36,863 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
2.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm11.8%
19,033 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements11.7%
18,872 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
4.Exhaust system leaking or insecure7.5%
12,076 occurrencesExhaust leaking or insecure explained
5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.5%
11,994 occurrencesLamp not working explained
6.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements7.2%
11,550 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
7.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.6%
10,659 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
8.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn6.6%
10,652 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
9.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement6.5%
10,524 occurrencesParking brake efficiency too low explained
10.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction6.3%
10,132 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Vauxhall Astra tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements24.4%
142,453 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A tyre seriously damaged18.2%
106,534 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
3.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured16.6%
96,924 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
4.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users15.5%
90,652 tests
5.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm11.1%
64,750 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
6.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened9.6%
55,803 testsRoad spring broken or fractured explained
7.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded8.6%
50,396 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
8.Exhaust system leaking or insecure6.1%
35,526 testsExhaust leaking or insecure explained

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Vauxhall Astra

The 18 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

Known faults

Vauxhall Astra common problems, by part and by year

The same failure record read the way a buyer asks the question: which parts wear out on a Astra, when they start, and how each registration year compares — including the steps that mark a generation change.

Astra common problems and results by year

How wear changes the picture

Astra pass rate by age and registration year

How often the Vauxhall Astra passes at each age, with the years those cars were first registered. Tests are from 2025, so a car aged 3 to 5 was first used in 2020–2022.

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202286%

6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201979%

9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201669%

12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201364%

15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier56%

Read this as an age curve rather than a verdict on particular model years. Nearly every car passes less often as it gets older, so a newer Astra outscoring an older one says more about wear than about how that year’s cars were built. Bands holding too few tests to be meaningful are omitted rather than shown as a rate.

What gets tested

The Astra fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 88,354
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol70.1%
Diesel29.8%

Trim names grouped into this model (40)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

ASTRA ACTIVE
ASTRA BUSINESS ED NAV T CVT
ASTRA BUSINESS ED NAV T D A
ASTRA BUSINESS EDITION NAV T
ASTRA BUSINESS EDITION NAV T D
ASTRA BUSINESS ELEGANCE TRBO A
ASTRA BUSINESS ELEGANCE TRBO D
ASTRA BUSINESS ELEGANCE TURBO
ASTRA CDTI
ASTRA D
ASTRA DESIGN
ASTRA DESIGN EV
ASTRA DESIGN TURBO
ASTRA DESIGN TURBO AUTO
ASTRA DESIGN TURBO D
ASTRA DESIGN TURBO D AUTO
ASTRA ELEGANCE
ASTRA ELITE
ASTRA ELITE CDTI
ASTRA ELITE NAV PREMIUM T
ASTRA ELITE NAV PREMIUM T CVT
ASTRA ELITE NAV PREMIUM TD
ASTRA ELITE NAV PREMIUM TD A
ASTRA ELITE NAV TURBO CVT
ASTRA ELITE NAV TURBO D
ASTRA ELITE NAV TURBO D AUTO
ASTRA ELITE TURBO
ASTRA EXCITE
ASTRA EXCLUSIV 113
ASTRA EXCLUSIVE 98
ASTRA GRIFFIN EDITION TRBO CVT
ASTRA GRIFFIN EDITION TRBO D A
ASTRA GRIFFIN EDITION TURBO
ASTRA GRIFFIN EDITION TURBO D
ASTRA GS EV
ASTRA GS LINE PHEV AUTO
ASTRA GS LINE TURBO
ASTRA GS LINE TURBO AUTO
ASTRA GS LINE TURBO D
ASTRA GS LINE TURBO D AUTO

Check a specific Vauxhall Astra

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Vauxhall models

Vauxhall Corsa — 64.4% adjusted
Vauxhall Mokka — 68.6% adjusted
Vauxhall Vivaro — 62.2% adjusted
Vauxhall Insignia — 72.5% adjusted
Vauxhall Zafira — 66.0% adjusted
Vauxhall Combo — 63.5% adjusted
All Vauxhall models

Similar test volumes

Compare against other makes

Nissan Qashqai — 67.4% adjusted, ranked 204
Volkswagen Polo — 67.5% adjusted, ranked 201
BMW 3 Series — 80.0% adjusted, ranked 55
Toyota Yaris — 72.3% adjusted, ranked 144

Common questions

Is the Vauxhall Astra reliable?: On MOT evidence the Vauxhall Astra is below average. It passes 71.0% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 160 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Vauxhall Astra?: The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 22.9% of failed Vauxhall Astra tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Vauxhall Astra?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 24.4% of all Vauxhall Astra tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Vauxhall Astra usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 88,354 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Which Vauxhall Astra years are the most reliable?: Going by MOT pass rate, Vauxhall Astra cars first registered 2020–2022 do best at 86.1%, and those registered 2010 and earlier do worst at 55.7%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.
Does a Vauxhall Astra get harder to pass as it ages?: Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 86.1% of Vauxhall Astra tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 55.7%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.
Are most Vauxhall Astra models petrol or diesel?: Of the Vauxhall Astra cars tested, 70% are petrol, 30% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. The adjusted rate is directly standardised across twenty-five age and mileage bands and reweighted onto the national distribution, so this model is compared against cars that have lived a similar life rather than against a younger or lighter-used fleet.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.